Bitrate, resolution, and quality
More pixels are useful only when the bitrate can describe them. Tight targets often reward a smaller frame.
Reviewed 2026-09-01
Bitrate is shared across frames
Average video bitrate is the number of bits available each second. Higher frame rates and larger frames divide that fixed supply among more pixel samples.
Motion, texture, film grain, and camera noise are expensive. A talking head against a still wall is cheaper than confetti, water, or fast game footage at the same dimensions.
Balanced is the practical default
Balanced chooses the highest resolution that clears a conservative bits-per-pixel-and-frame floor. It does not upscale and caps unusually high source frame rates.
This works well when the output needs to fit a chat limit but still look ordinary on a phone or laptop.
Smaller dimensions can look cleaner
The smaller-dimensions mode begins lower on the resolution ladder. Each remaining pixel receives more of the bitrate, which can reduce blocking and smearing in long clips.
This mode is a strong choice for very small targets or sources with heavy motion.
Preserve resolution when possible
Preserve mode allows a lower density threshold before stepping down. It is useful for screen recordings and fine text when the target provides enough total bitrate.
It is not a promise to keep full resolution. Convert still rejects a combination that cannot produce a viable result within the hard ceiling.